The oval body type is a characteristic body morphology in which body fat tissue and overall volume are predominantly concentrated along the central axis—namely the abdomen, stomach, and waist area—while, in contrast, the hips and legs remain relatively slimmer and flatter compared to the torso. Frequently referred to in aesthetic literature as the “apple body type,” this form is characterized by the loss of a defined waistline, which takes on an outward oval shape, and by a disruption of the balance between shoulder width and hip width in favor of the torso. As a reflection of genetic inheritance and metabolic processes, this silhouette is defined not merely by excess weight but by skeletal structure and a centrally concentrated fat distribution pattern.

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How Is the Oval Body Type Identified?

By standing in front of a mirror and examining your body contours, it is actually quite simple to determine whether you have this morphology. In individuals with an oval body type, the most striking feature is that the width of the body’s midsection dominates over the width of the shoulders and hips. The shoulders are generally rounded, the rib cage is broad, and the abdominal area protrudes forward. However, the most defining characteristic is the surprisingly delicate lower body compared to the upper body. The hips may be flat, the legs thin, and the ankles slender. This contrast gives the impression that the body’s entire load is concentrated at the center of the torso.

The main visual features that distinguish this body type from others are:

Broad rib cage
Indistinct waist indentation
Full abdominal area
Flat hip structure
Thin legs
Rounded shoulder contours
Short neck appearance
Weight concentrated in the torso

Why Does the Oval Body Type Develop?

Genetic factors play the leading role in the formation of this body type. In somatotype classification, individuals who are closer to the “endomorph” type are genetically predisposed to store fat, and the body primarily selects the abdominal region for this storage. In other words, no matter how much weight you lose, your skeletal framework and your body’s fat distribution pattern are encoded in your genetic makeup. It is no coincidence that you may observe similar body structures when you look at other members of your family.

In addition, hormonal balances accelerate the ovalization process. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, prompts the body to store fat around the internal organs with the mindset of “I may need energy in times of danger.” Similarly, insulin resistance triggers fat accumulation around the abdomen. Advancing age and hormonal transition periods such as menopause or andropause lead to reduced muscle mass and a slower metabolism, making this process more pronounced. A sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary habits are environmental factors that reveal this genetically existing potential.

Factors that trigger or accentuate the oval body type include:

Genetic inheritance
High cortisol levels
Insulin resistance
Menopause
Low testosterone
Sedentary lifestyle
Alcohol consumption
Insufficient sleep
Chronic stress

Is the Oval Body Type Risky from a Health Perspective?

Beyond aesthetic concerns, my approach to the oval body type as a physician is always health-oriented. This is because the fat accumulated in this body type is not merely subcutaneous fat that creates a “cosmetic” issue. The real danger lies in the “visceral” fat tissue that surrounds internal organs such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines deep within the abdominal cavity. This internal fat accumulation creates a constant state of inflammation in the body and opens the door to metabolic syndrome.

This expansion around the waist directly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The forward shift of the body’s center of gravity also threatens spinal health. In particular, lumbar disc herniation and postural disorders arise as a result of excessive loading on the spine as it attempts to balance the weight in the abdominal region. In addition, the upward pressure of fatty tissue on the diaphragm can reduce respiratory capacity and pave the way for problems such as sleep apnea. Therefore, managing the oval body type is essential not only for looking better but for a longer and healthier life.

Health risks that may accompany this body type include:

Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease
Fatty liver disease
Sleep apnea
Herniated disc
Joint pain
High cholesterol
Gastroesophageal reflux disease

How Is Diagnosis of the Oval Body Type Made Using the Waist-to-Hip Ratio?

Although observation is important in clinical practice, we rely on numerical data to clarify the diagnosis and map out risk. The most reliable mathematical indicator of the oval body type is the Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR). When you measure the widest part of your waist (usually at the level of the navel) and the widest part of your hips with a tape measure and divide these two values, the resulting figure reveals your body’s fat storage pattern.

Under normal conditions, a healthy silhouette is expected to have a waist that is narrower than the hips. In the oval body type, however, this ratio is very close, equal, or the waist is wider than the hips. A ratio above 0.85 in women and above 0.90 in men is a sign of what we call abdominal obesity. This measurement is even more valuable than the Body Mass Index (BMI). Because even if your scale weight is normal, if your waist circumference is wide, you may fall into the category of “metabolically obese normal weight” and carry the risks associated with the oval body type.

The main parameters we use in diagnosis and follow-up are:

Waist circumference measurement
Hip circumference measurement
Waist-to-hip ratio
Body mass index
Visceral fat analysis
Skinfold thickness

Is There a Difference Between Men and Women with the Oval Body Type?

Although the oval body type is seen in both sexes, it differs in terms of fat distribution characteristics and aesthetic expectations. In men, the oval structure is generally referred to as “android” fat distribution and manifests as a firm, tense abdominal structure around the navel. This firmness indicates that most of the fat is located beneath the muscles, around the internal organs. In men, this structure creates a sharper contrast with thin legs and is colloquially referred to as a “legged egg.”

In women, the oval structure before menopause is characterized by softer fatty tissue. After menopause, however, with the reduction of estrogen’s protective effect, the fat distribution pattern shifts toward the male type and waist thickening accelerates. In our female patients, the most common complaint is difficulty in clothing selection; garments that fit the chest and waist often end up being loose around the hips and legs. Aesthetic surgical planning also differs; while we aim for a more athletic and flat abdomen in men, restoring the waistline curvature is the priority in women.

Gender-specific differences include:

Fat tissue firmness
Skin elasticity
Muscle mass ratio
Hormonal sources
Aesthetic goals
Surgical planning

Can the Oval Body Type Be Changed with Diet and Exercise?

This is the question we hear most often from our patients, and its answer is both “yes” and “no.” Of course, healthy nutrition and regular exercise are indispensable for reducing overall body fat and visceral fat. As you lose weight, the volume of your torso decreases and your health risks are reduced. However, it is not possible to change your genetic “template” through diet.

When an individual with an oval body type loses weight, the body continues to slim down from the legs and facial area according to its programmed pattern. As a result, a smaller-volume but still “oval” body form may emerge. In particular, what we call “stubborn fat,” such as the flanks (love handles) and lower abdominal fat, are the areas that respond last to a caloric deficit. In addition, structural deformities such as separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) and skin laxity resulting from extreme weight fluctuations or pregnancies cannot be corrected no matter how many sit-ups you do. At this point, surgery comes into play to overcome the limits imposed by genetics and deformation.

Key points to consider in nutrition and exercise include:

Low glycemic index
High protein intake
Fiber-rich foods
Restriction of processed sugars
Interval cardio
Core exercises
Pilates
Adequate water consumption

How Does Vaser Liposuction Make a Difference in the Treatment of the Oval Body Type?

In aesthetic surgery, our most powerful tool for shaping the oval body type is Vaser Liposuction technology. This method works on a very different principle from classic liposuction. Using sound waves, it delicately separates fat cells from the surrounding tissue, much like separating grapes from a cluster. This selectivity preserves vascular and nerve structures, which means less bruising and faster recovery after surgery.

However, the most critical advantage of Vaser for the oval body type is its capacity for “high-definition” sculpting. Recreating the lost waist indentation in an oval structure, eliminating folds in the back area, and revealing the shadows of the abdominal muscles require the precision of a sculptor. Because Vaser liquefies the fat before removal, it minimizes the risk of surface irregularities on the skin. More importantly, the thermal effect created by ultrasound energy stimulates the deeper layers of the skin, promoting tightening. This feature is a major advantage in oval body types where skin elasticity is borderline, helping to prevent post-liposuction sagging.

The advantages offered by Vaser technology include:

Tissue selectivity
Skin tightening
Less bruising
Faster recovery
Muscle definition
Homogeneous results
Creation of contours
Safe application

In Which Situations Is a Tummy Tuck Surgery Unavoidable?

In some oval body types, the issue is not merely excess fat. If a patient has lost a significant amount of weight, has had multiple pregnancies, or has genetically weak connective tissue, the abdominal skin may have lost its elasticity and sagged. In addition, the muscles forming the anterior abdominal wall may have separated, creating an “internal abdominal widening.” In such cases, no matter how much fat is removed, it is not possible to correct the protruding abdominal appearance and sagging skin. This is where abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery becomes necessary.

In a tummy tuck procedure, excess skin and subcutaneous fat are removed through an incision made in the area of a cesarean scar (hidden within the bikini line). However, the truly transformative part of the operation is the tightening of the loosened abdominal muscles by suturing them together along the midline, much like a corset. This process radically corrects the protruding abdomen—the biggest problem of the oval body type—and slims the waist. To achieve the most ideal result, we generally combine this procedure with liposuction applied to the waist and back areas (lipoabdominoplasty), thereby tightening the front while sculpting the waistline 360 degrees.

Signs observed in tummy tuck candidates include:

Skin sagging
Abdominal muscle separation
Apron-like appearance
Stretch marks
Navel deformity
Skin folds
Muscle laxity

Can the Oval Body Be Shaped with Non-Surgical Methods?

For patients who are not suitable for surgery, do not wish to undergo anesthesia, or have more limited fat accumulation, medical aesthetic technologies come into play. Although these methods do not provide results as dramatic and definitive as surgery in a single session, they can deliver quite satisfactory improvements with proper patient selection. Oval body types with good skin quality and “localized” fat accumulation can particularly benefit from these procedures.

Cryolipolysis (Cold Lipolysis) is the technology we use most frequently in this field. It operates on the principle that fat cells are sensitive to cold; through controlled cooling, fat cells are crystallized and then eliminated through the body’s natural metabolic processes. Radiofrequency and ultrasonic systems target both fat tissue and tighten the skin by heating collagen fibers beneath the skin. Mesotherapy and lipolytic enzyme injections can be used to dissolve stubborn fat in smaller areas. However, it should be remembered that in oval body structures with significant skin sagging or muscle laxity, the effectiveness of these devices will remain limited.

Non-surgical options include:

Cryolipolysis
Radiofrequency
Focused ultrasound
Mesotherapy
Enzymatic lipolysis
Cavitation
Lymphatic drainage
Magnetic muscle stimulation

What Is the Recovery Process Like After Oval Body Type Procedures?

The recovery process after aesthetic surgery varies depending on the scope of the procedure performed. Patients who undergo only Vaser Liposuction generally recover much more quickly. It is usually possible to return to social life within 3–5 days and to work within one week. Swelling and mild sensitivity are expected, but movement restriction is minimal.

A tummy tuck procedure, on the other hand, involves a more comprehensive process. Since the abdominal muscles are addressed internally, it is completely normal for patients to have difficulty standing upright during the first few days and to walk slightly bent forward; this position is important to reduce tension along the suture line. The most critical element of the recovery process is the compression garment. Wearing a medical corset for approximately 4–6 weeks after surgery helps control swelling, allows the skin to adapt to its new form, and supports the surgical area. While heavy sports and movements that strain the abdominal muscles should be avoided for about six weeks, light walks starting the day after surgery support healing by increasing blood circulation.

Points to consider during the recovery period include:

Regular use of a compression garment
Adequate water intake
Light walking
Salt restriction
No smoking
Protein-rich nutrition
Sleeping in a supine position
Avoiding heavy lifting

Dr. Erman Ak

Op. Dr. Erman Ak is an internationally experienced specialist known for facial, breast, and body contouring surgeries in the field of aesthetic surgery. With his natural result–oriented surgical philosophy, modern techniques, and artistic vision, he is among the leading names in aesthetic surgery in Türkiye. A graduate of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ak completed his residency at the Istanbul University Çapa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
During his training, he received advanced microsurgery education from Prof. Dr. Fu Chan Wei at the Taiwan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and was awarded the European Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Qualification by the European Board of Plastic Surgery (EBOPRAS). He also conducted advanced studies on facial and breast aesthetics as an ISAPS fellow at the Villa Bella Clinic (Italy) with Prof. Dr. Giovanni and Chiara Botti.
Op. Dr. Erman Ak approaches aesthetic surgery as a personalized art, tailoring each patient’s treatment according to facial proportions, skin structure, and natural aesthetic harmony. His expertise includes deep-plane face and neck lift, lip lift, buccal fat removal (bichectomy), breast augmentation and lifting, abdominoplasty, liposuction, BBL, and mommy makeover. He currently provides safe, natural, and holistic aesthetic treatments using modern techniques in his private clinic in Istanbul.